Ron Salas, Cons & Jesus Antonio

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Today I posted the Ron Salas Rambo sketch I picked up at MegaCon.  It’s my third piece from Ron and hopefully not my last.

The bad news is it looks unlikely that I’ll attend TampaCon this month. The great news is Big John Beatty is now a guest at FX.   I’m really psyched about this.  John and I have a blast hanging out at his table, seeing old friends, making new ones and generally having all kinds of fun.  He’ll be sketching and I’ll be attempting to get a few new additions to my Stallone sketch collection.  Good times.

I’ve also got two sketch commissions lined up with Jesus Antonio. Jesus is currently trying to raise some cash to help his mother with some doctor bills.  Check his art out and if you like what you see [I know you’ll like his prices!], order a commission or two for yourself.  You’ll be happy, Jesus Antonio will be happy, his mother will be happy, and the doctor will be happy.  Heck, even I’ll be happy.  How often does something like that happen?

  • Mood: Happy
  • Listening to: Your Smiling Face by James Taylor
  • Reading: The Hardcore Diaries by Mick Foley
  • Watching: Gangland on A&E
  • Playing: Internet Spades
  • Eating: Chicken Finger Sandwich
  • Drinking: Water

 

Craig Watches “The Watchmen”

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The Pitch: Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon’s classic comic story brought to life on the big screen by Zack Snyder.

The Overview: It’s 1985… Richard Nixon is President… superheroes are real… and someone is killing them off.

The Good: The story was considered unadaptable to film, but this is near perfect.  The direction is spot on.  The sets, the costumes, the special effects, and the casting are also on point.  Jeffrey Dean Morgan [The Comedian] and Jackie Earle Haley [Rorschach] own every scene they are in.  Matt Frewer as Molach.  The Night Owl’s flying machine.  The more I think about the movie, the more I like it.  Rorscach’s two classic lines while being threatened in prison.  Dr. Manhattan.

The Bad: At times Matthew Goode as Ozymandias reminded of Dana Carvey from Saturday Night Live.

The Ugly: Compound fractures in some of the fight scenes.  Blocking the prison cell door.

The Summary: Although I read the Alan Moore/Dave Gibbons Watchmen comic mini-series [it wasn’t published as a graphic novel until later] when it was first released, I wasn’t as taken with it as most.  I enjoyed it.  I liked the movie better than the source material. [Quit booing, it’s just my opinion.]  The story changes didn’t bother me a bit… in fact they may have made the movie better.

I wish that Alan Moore didn’t distance himself from the project.  It’d be interesting to hear his thoughts.  Dave Gibbons praised the film.  Who am I to agrue with Dave?

I can’t wait to see the movie again.  Who knows, after that I may even want to pull the graphic novel off the shelf and reread it.

RIP: Charles “Mask” Lewis

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I was sad to read that Charles Lewis, Jr, aka “Mask” was killed early today in an automobile accident.  Lewis was the founder of Tapout Clothing, Inc. and one of the stars of the reality series of the same name.  According to Lt. Jim Amormino, a public information officer with the Orange County Sherrif’s Department and  MMAWeekly.com:

At 12:57 a.m., a Newport Beach Police cruiser spotted Lewis’ red Ferrari and a white Porsche driving out of control…The Ferrari then struck the curb and hit a utility pole, tearing the car in half. After coming to a brief stop, the Porsche fled the scene. An unnamed female passenger was ejected from Lewis’ car in the crash. Newport Beach paramedics pronounced Lewis dead at the scene.

In all the times I ever saw him, Charles “Mask” Lewis, Jr. came across as a genuinely nice person.  It makes me sick to think that his life was cut so short.  The Tapout crew have announced that a memorial service is in the planning stages and details will be announced on the website once they are confirmed.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Mask’s family, friends and fans.

More Max No Mel

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George Miller, the writer/director behind “Mad Max”, “The Road Warrior” and  *cough*not as good *cough* “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome” is bringing back the character in a feature length animated film and a video game.  Neither of the projects involve Mel Gibson [who played Max in all of the previous films].  In addition, Miller would love to do another feature length live action “Mad Max” film.  If it happens, Mel Gibson won’t be involved.  Says Miller:

“The ideas we have for live action are very physical. The stories are pretty physical. It’s not like ‘Unforgiven,’ about an older person.”

With the right story a new “Mad Max” film could jump start the franchise.  I’d give it a shot, with or without Mel.  You can read the rest of the George Miller interview at MTV’s Movie Blog.

More Riddick Coming

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I admit it.  I’m a Vin Diesel fan… especially when he plays Riddick.  I loved “Pitch Black.” And while its sequel, “The Chronicles of Riddick” fell short, I have grown to like it a bit more with each additional viewing.

That’s why I get a twinge of excitement every time a new Riddick movie is brought up.   You can imagine my delight when Diesel said in a recent interview:

Maybe we’ve been too tight-lipped about the movie, and you’ll probably hear a lot more about it… [Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick screenwriter] David Twohy is finishing up the next script.

Whoa.  Now THAT is great news.  You can read the full interview here and if you’re in to video games you should since there’s a lot of talk about the new Riddick game about to be released.

Beat the Reaper

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The Pitch: Beat the Reaper is like The Sopranos meets ER as written by Charlie Huston and Duane Swierczynski

The Overview: Peter Brown, a mafia hitman,  now in the witness protection program finds his cover as an emergency room physician blown when he is recognized by one of his own associates.  With hitmen in the hospital, Brown will have to use his new skills as a doctor coupled with his hitman abilities if he is to survive.

The Good: Josh Baszell’s writing presents a unique spin on a mafia hitman.  Nothing is as it seems.  Footnotes.  Yes, footnotes.  This book moves.  The characters.

The Bad: Being dumped in a shark tank.  Stuck with a hypo full of **** and another full of infected fluids.  Thrown out of a 6th story window.

The Ugly: What Brown has to do to survive.

The Summary: I loved Beat the Reaper.  I can’t remember the last time I read a book by a first time author that I enjoyed so much.  Bazell has created a winner and I can’t wait for his follow-up.

Mitch Byrd, Tampa & FX

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I posted the Mitch Byrd sketch I got at MegaCon. Pretty nice, huh?

love Mitch’s art and am surprised we don’t see more of it in comics and on-line. Mitch said he doesn’t do anything with a computer and any of his art on-line was put there by someone else. If you ever get the chance to see Mitch at a show, don’t miss it. His portfolio is amazing. He’s a very humble person and such a talented artist. I hope that my first Mitch Byrd piece is not my last.


Tim Gordon’s Tampa Con is quickly approaching. It’s Sunday, March 22nd from 10am – 4pm. The funny thing is the con is now in Largo. I haven’t been to the new location, but am thinking about making the trip on the 22nd. My wife and mom would like to go down that way to visit a family member and I could be dropped off at the show. LOL. It could work. Hmmmm…. Here’s a link to the show [link] of you planning to attend?


FX is the con that I’m really looking forward to. There are a ton of artists planning to attend. I haven’t been able to talk my buddy, John Beatty, into going so it looks like I’m going to have to do this one solo. The guest list is just too good to pass up. Funds are tight, but I have to work this con in. Here’s the link [link] who’s with me?


Mood: Joy
Listening to: Groove Line by Heat Wave
Reading: Another Life by Andrew Vachss
Watching: Babylon A.D.
Playing: Internet Spades
Eating: Spanish Omelet
Drinking: Vitamin Water

Mir vs Lesnar & Hughes vs Sera

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On Tuesday it was announced that on May 23rd, UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar (3-1) will square off against UFC interim heavyweight champion Frank Mir (12-3 MMA).  This unification bout will be their second meeting.  In the first, Mir won via tapout from a leg bar in the first round.

The card will also feature the highly anticipated bout between Matt Hughes and Matt Sera.  There’s no love lost between these two and you can bet that trash talk will lead up to sparks in the ring.

At this point, I’d have to say that the smart money is on Lesnar in the title bout and Hughes in the battle of the Matts.  I have to admit that I’ll probably be pulling for the underdogs when May 23rd rolls around.